5 stars!

“The ghosts of your past are not omens to predict your future.”

I absolutely LOVED this book. I read A Broken Blade a few months back and loved it. This is that book but 100 times better. The amount of character growth and development in this is insane. I laughed, I cried I just felt everything.

All the characters in this are so well written and their relationships are no complex. This story and world is just so beautifully crafted.

I cannot wait for the 3rd book to come out!

A Shadow Crown-3.25⭐️ 3🌶️

To the kingdom, Keera is the king’s Blade, his most feared and trusted spy and assassin. But in the shadows, she works with Prince Killian and his Shadow—the dark, brooding Fae, Riven, who sets her blood on fire. Together, they plot to topple the crown that sits upon the king’s head.

A secret can only survive as long as its conspirators, and when nothing is as it seems, all are in danger. Keera swore she would never open her heart again after a loss she barely survived. But she will soon find she has more to lose than she ever imagined . . .


✨My Opinion✨

I’m enjoying this series!

There are nods to the authors indigenous background, a LOT of inter world diversity that makes the cultures and magic systems very interesting and compelling.

The writing seemed a bit more disjointed than the last book. I often found gaps mid-chapter where I needed to go back and try to reconfigure my mind’s picture of what was going on. But over all, I am really enjoying the series!

With this the second book, there was a huge betrayal and the MC’s were separated. I’m hoping that we get more of the reason behind all of that and get back to the romance!


Found family
One bed
Fated mates
Betrayal
Bi rep
Assassin
Shadow magic
Grief
Political intrigue



Thank you Union Square & Co, Sterling Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed the first book, especially the unique and fierce main character Keera. Sadly I didn't like the second book as much. I feel like the story became like all the other romantasy ones with the stereotypical tropes ... and I didn't even like the relationship between Keera and Riven that much. I was a bit disappointed and lost motivation to continue reading the book, but maybe I will continue sometime...

Melissa Blair might as well just take my entire pay check. I devoured every single word of both books in the series. I cannot say more, it was so so so good.

(My account is working very well and I am limited by what I can write dramatically. I will write a more detailed review on Goodreads!)

But wow, I loved this book. Thank you for the opportunity to arc read this.

A masterpiece

I am in love with everything about this series. And the fact that the sequel is better than the first one only makes me want to read the next one even more. Everything is absolutely perfect, making this book a real masterpiece. It has everything I love, just like A Broken Blade, but even better. The plot thickens, with more revelations that I didn't see coming. The romance is more intense and hot. The spice is absolutely amazing: I love that the author writes unique scenes that are suited to the characters and their emotional journey. It only makes it more intense and enjoyable. As for the characters themselves, I'm endlessly falling in love with them. Keera is probably one of the best main characters I have ever had the pleasure of discovering. She has such depth and complexity that I am always surprised by what the author reveals about her. Her growth in this sequel is exquisite as well. Riven is equally amazingly written and I can't get enough of him either. The writing is addictive as ever, making it absolutely impossible to stop reading once the book is open. I went through all the emotions humanly possible while reading and it was amazing. I cried, I laughed, I gasped, I was hot... It has it all. I have only one request: I need the sequel now! This series is slowly becoming one of my all times favorite and I couldn't be happier about it.

If there is one book you need to read in your life, it's this one. Just do it, I swear!

"Sometimes secrets were a necessary thing to protect those we loved."

TW: violence, blood, war, abuse, assault, sexual content, scarification, self harm, murder, death, weapons

Though I found the pacing of this book to be much different than the first book until the last 10%, I loved this one just as much! You got some growth in different relationships and learned more about the world and some of the characters' past. Unfortunately, I don't see anything that says how many books this series will be and there is no release date for the 3rd book. Fingers crossed the next one comes soon!

It's quite rare that I like a sequel better then the first book, but A Shadow Crown was one of those books! The old characters got more exposure, the new characters played important roles and weren't introduced just to be filllers. The same with the plot: some plot lines from the first book were resolved, but we still got enough of mysteries that I cannot wait to get my hands on the 3d book!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

After reading A Broken Blade, I was thankful I had the next book on hand. I immediately jumped into A Shadow Crown, binge-reading in a single day. It picks up immediately after the first book’s events, maintaining the momentum established by the ending. Similar to the first book, the pace is somewhat uneven, but the writing is more polished with descriptions and greater character introspection. These changes kept me invested in Keera and engaged in the story.

The narrative is different as Keera must reckon with her past. It is less plot-driven and focuses on Keera’s origins as well as defending her place among those trying to overthrow the king. While she undergoes growth, other characters receive less attention. Riven, for instance, plays an important role, but he is relatively underutilized here. He provides a supportive presence for Keera, which I loved, but I wanted him in a more active role. Part of this is due to the story being told solely from Keera’s point of view, yet I could not help wishing there was more for him to do. (Am I biased? Probably…)

The Halfling Saga is Keera’s story, requiring readers to be invested in the character to be able to continue the series. For the most part, Blair achieves this. Although I had some doubts in the first half of A Broken Blade, I gradually became engrossed in the story and the world. Despite a rushed ending, A Shadow Crown further establishes why the saga has been so popular. I rooted for Keera throughout both books and continue to cross my fingers she will get to have the life that was taken from her. I look forward to continuing Keera’s journey in the next book. (3.5 stars rounded to 4 stars)

It was great to continue the adventure with Keera and Riven. With a focus on uncovering Keera's lost memories and mysterious past this book has a little less action than the first but does a great job filling in so much that we didn't learn in book one about Keera and her crew.

I really enjoyed the fabulous world building in this book. I loved spending more time in the Elverin cities and really seeing their magic come to life.

Allegiances are questioned, plots uncovered, and the stage is set for a really exciting next book!

It is rare that I say that a sequel tops an already strong entry (first novel). This one does just that and more, the characters get more room to breath and I found we’re not dull but engaging. Great job Blair!!

A Shadow Crown is an amazing and suspenseful second installment in The Halfling Saga by Melissa Blair.

Picking up right where the first book left off, you are immediately thrown back into character development, world, building, plot development, and political intrigue. If it all possible, Blair makes this book even more suspenseful and well written than the first.

We pick ride up with Keera, trying to decide which path she will choose. The path of the kingdom or the path of the rebellion. We get back stories for many of the beloved side characters, and they do take a more front row seat in the second book. We get introduced to more characters through the path of the rebellion. And they are just as lovable as the ones we already came to know. Of course, we do get more suspicious characters that could be friend or foe, and part of the fun of the second book is finding out which side they align with. This book was suspenseful and mysterious from start to finish. The twists at the end absolutely were shocking. The book ends on a cliffhanger setting up the third installment, and I personally cannot wait.

An amazing sequel to one of my favorite reads of last year!

The pacing in this book does not let up for a second. It has just the right mix of ebbs and flows to keep a reader on the edge of their seat and second guessing anything they may have thought they figured out.

Melissa Blair continues to write a unique and lush fantasy world filled with flawed and fleshed out characters. Keera can be annoying. She can be insufferable in her rash decision making. However, these things make Keera real and separate her from other femme heroes in the genre. The only person Keera truly has had in her long semi eternal life to rely on is herself. She needs to learn how others are there to help her, be there for her and even love her in a way she truly deserves.

The ending of this book (spoiler free!) builds this world out even further and I can not wait to see where it goes.

Jumping right in- I really enjoyed this & can't wait for the next installment! For some reason heading into this I thought this was the conclusion to the series, so I was really happy when I realized we'll be getting another book!

I do feel like it was a bit slower paced than the first one (which isn't a bad thing, especially for those who don't mind slower paced book). The pace of the action in the first book really hooked me & with this one felt like there was a lot more discussion/filler and not as much action, but I did really enjoy getting to find out more about Keera's past!

*Heading into Spoiler Territory*

I do wish there hadn't been as long of a wait for a reconnection between Keera & Riven. This is definitely just my own personal preference problem, but I'm the type of person that hates when the couple finally gets together and then for the whole beginning of the next book there's something that keeps them apart and then it takes time to reconcile and it kinda feels like we're taking steps forward and then steps backward, so if you're also that type of person you might not enjoy the pace of the romance so much in this book.

I do absolutelyyy love seeing how Keera's past relationship & healing plays into her relationship with Riven & how they handle that together. This situation is in no way included in what I mean by the relationship pacing (only the waiting for him to come back into the picture in the start of the book was kinda eh for me). This aspect of the story is such an amazing layer to explore & I'm really excited to continue on this journey with Keera. I'm also someone who lost someone I loved deeply, very unexpectedly & traumatically, so I really connect to Keera in this way.

All in all, while there was some things I preferred in the first book I still think this was a great read & I'm super excited to see where the story heads next!

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read an arc copy of this!

I've been waiting for this sequel for a long time and it did not disappoint. I loved reading even more twists and turns in Keera's story - this was a perfect followup to book one. Great job!

I loved the pacing and plot twists throughout this sequel to A Broken Blade. Keera’s a fantastic main character, flawed enough to be realistic but with the strength and drive that makes her story so compelling.
I really appreciate the world-building and diversity, as well as a stellar cast of supporting characters.
Looking forward to more!

Thank you so much to NetGalley for giving the opportunity to read this incredible sequel early!

I was a bit late to the game for this TikTok phenomenon of a series, but I am so happy I got on board—I literally cannot wait for the series’ stunning conclusion. If you didn’t think this series could improve on the first book, you’d be surprised. Keera is a fantastic heroine who I know will set the baseline for what is required of a complex female lead for years to come in the genre. The character development continues in this installment, effectively rendering its characters into three-dimensional, complex people that I love to follow. Paired with excellent prose and heart-stopping action, this book delivers!

Thank you to Netgalley and Union Square & Co for providing an eARC of "A Shadow Crown" by Melissa Blair, and to Melissa Blair for showing her support for my excitement about this book on social media.

"A Shadow Crown" is the second novel of the Halfling Saga, and follows Keera as she continues her work as the King's master assassin while also trying to win over the untrusting people of the rebellion as a double agent. However, when the rebellion suspects that Keera is behind the leak of information to the enemy, she must walk a delicate line to prove her innocence.

The first book of the series explored themes of colonialism, genocide, and racism, while still sticking to familiar tropes that made it feel comfortable to readers. The sequel continues to build on these themes as Blair continues to build upon her previous world-building. The setting is incredibly rich and complex and I loved reading more about the elves and their magical tree city. The characters are incredibly complex as well, with Keera continuing to deal with her addiction in a manner that feels completely real. She also has a whole heap of past trauma and grief to work through and that feels authentic. The supporting cast of characters grow and their relationships with Keera become even more endearing. I adore her new librarian friend; instant favorite. The romantic relationship between Keera and Riven is especially heartwarming. After his betrayal, he takes the time to earn Keera's trust and their bond is beautiful and supportive.

While some readers may find this installment to be slower than the first, the pacing is necessary to allow for the characters to be fully fleshed out and for readers to become even more invested in them. Overall, "A Shadow Crown" is a beautifully written novel with intricate world-building and endearing characters, and I highly recommend it. Melissa Blair's talent as an author continues to build and I will read anything that she writes forever.

I enjoyed my time reading this book. I do think it suffered a tad bit from second book syndrome but I’m very excited to see how the series concludes. The writing is definitely improved for book two, not that it was lacking book 1 but it’s cool to see an author improve.

The story picks up right where you left off. There’s tons more character development/building for this book which I definitely enjoyed.

I already knew I was going to love this sequel, and I definitely did! I love this author's style and the way the main characters are built up. Of course, particularly Keera. And, this book really delves into a lot of Keera's history and how she is dealing with it.

I loved this focus on Keera and also the continuous world building that is just incredible. This world is especially beautiful and creative in this book. The author has a lot of room to work with very magical details, and it's really marvelous.

This was one of my most anticipated reads this year, and I'm just so freaking happy with this! (By the way, major cliffhanger!! Can't wait for book three!)

Out May 9, 2023!

I had some doubts about A Broken Blade but this is definitely better and more entertaining. A tightly knitted and fast paced plot, good world building, a character arc that I liked.
I fell in love with the cover and the story is compelling
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine